THE SPREAD OF ISLAM AND ITS IMPACTS ON THE ARABIC CALLIGRAPHY (KHAṬ)

Abstract

Language is a system of arbitrary sound symbols produced by human speech tools and used by the community
in communicating, cooperating and identifying. Oral language is the primary language, while written language
is a secondary language. Written languages change more slowly than corresponding spoken languages. The
Arabic language itself belongs to the group of Semitic alphabetical letter in which mainly the consonants are
represented in writing, while the markings of vowels are optional. With the spread of Islam, the Arabic alphabet
was adapted by several non-Arab nations for writing their own languages. Actually, the earliest-known
alphabet to humankind was the North Semitic, which developed around 1700 B.C. in Palestine and Syria. The
Arabic, Hebrew, and Phoenician alphabets were based on this model. The North Arabic letter, which eventually
prevailed and became the Arabic letter of the Quran, relates most substantially and directly to the Nabataean,
which was derived from the Aramaic. Arabic letters until today still share with Aramaic the names of some
alphabet letters. Arabic has influenced many other languages around the globe throughout its history.